This archive report was first published on 24 June 2020.
Human Error Blamed for Pakistan Plane Crash ¶
On May 22, a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane crashed in Karachi, killing 95 people, with an initial investigation pointing to human error as the cause.
According to an initial report, the pilot and co-pilot were distracted by a conversation about the coronavirus pandemic as they attempted to land the Airbus A320 at Karachi airport.
"The pilot as well as the controller didn't follow the standard rules," said Pakistan's aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan, announcing the findings in parliament on June 24, 2020.
The investigation team, which included officials from the French government and the aviation industry, analyzed data and voice recorders from the plane.
The minister stated that the plane was "100 percent fit for flying, there was no technical fault," contradicting the initial assumption that a mechanical failure might have contributed to the crash.
The crash occurred just days after domestic commercial flights resumed in Pakistan following a two-month coronavirus lockdown, with many passengers on board heading to spend the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr with loved ones.
